Quakertown School District is making the grade

Quakertown school administrators delivered a district report card on Thursday and the news was good.

“I was close to tears,” said school board member Linda Martin after hearing the results.

On the 2010-11 PSSAs, Quakertown students received their highest scores in district history, while the Class of 2011 had the highest SAT and ACT scores in district history.

Of the 13 districts in Bucks County, Quakertown ranked fourth in PSSA results, an achievement that is even more impressive, said officials, given the fact that the district ranks eighth in overall wealth.

“We broke the wealth barrier and that’s huge,” said school board President Kathy Mosley.

Assistant Superintendent Kathy Metrick presented the report card, which analyzed a number of data sources, including state assessment scores, college-entrance exams, and growth measures.

Highlights of the report include Tohickon Valley Elementary School ranking first of the 87 elementary schools in Bucks County in math PSSA scores, said Metrick.

The school has also met the criteria to be nominated as a National Title I Distinguished School for Pennsylvania. The honor is given to schools that are innovative in helping economically disadvantaged students achieve high standards.

Pfaff Elementary School ranked second in the county for reading in fifth grade.

And Trumbauersville Elementary is a top performing elementary school in the county for both reading and math PSSAs combined. The school was nominated to be a Blue Ribbon School.

“Hard work does pay off,” said Trumbauersville Principal James Moczydlowski. “We’re effective and we’re responsive. I’ve been here 24 years and I think back on lots of different challenges. While we may disagree and take different positions ... optimism always wins and that’s the bottom line.”

Hilary Bentman: 215-538-6380;

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Meanwhile Quakertown High School ranks in the top 14 percent of all high schools in Pennsylvania for combined PSSA scores.

“You’re so used to being criticized by a few that you forget you’re serving the many,” said school board member Nancy Tirjan. “This acknowledges how much work has gone on.”